An Interview With DR Tim Sandle

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR TIM SANDLE
Dr Tim Sandle is currently Head of Microbiology and Sterility Assurance at Bio Products
Laboratory Limited. Here he talks about his current role, his area of research and the
importance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a health issue. He also explains why he
joined the Microbiology Society and offers advice for anyone thinking about a career
change.
You are currently Head of Microbiology and Sterility Assurance: tell us more about
your role with Bio Products Laboratory Limited.
I am responsible for heading up four departments. One is associated with supporting the
manufacturing areas in terms of assessing cleanrooms for levels of microorganisms in
the air and on surfaces for assessing product bioburden, microbial levels in water,
screening samples for bacterial endotoxin and verifying that the finished product is
sterile. The second area is associated with the development of novel microbial methods,
the qualification of equipment, and dealing with regulatory submissions. The third area is
to do with risk assessments, carried out in order to lower microbial contamination risks in
process areas and to investigate when high microbial levels are recovered. The fourth
area is linked to proactive practices to improve hygiene and to support new
technologies. My role is to ensure these different entities connect together and to
develop appropriate policies and standards in order to enhance sterility assurance.
Why did you choose to become a microbiologist?

I was always interested in biology: as a child, I was encouraged by my grandfather to
take an interest in the natural world. I started off with an interest in biological sciences in
general and was encouraged by a teacher to consider the importance of microbiology in
health and disease.
Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about a career change and making a
brave move from academia to industry?
The key attraction with industry is the ability to research and develop life-saving
medicines and see these come to fruition. However, it is a different working experience
and there are different types of pressures (these days both academia and industry are
subject to increasing cost and time demands). Certainly, in industry there is a need to
produce and release on schedule, otherwise this creates financial complexities.
However, the work is very varied and there remains opportunities to engage in research
and to produce papers. I’ve certainly managed to continue to contribute to peer-
reviewed papers and book chapters. There also remains the opportunity to present at
conferences.
Tell us about your biggest professional achievement(s) so far.
Some of the recent research I’ve been undertaking has concerned a partly overlooked
issue of whether organisms that are resistant to antimicrobials have enhanced
resistance to biocides. Although there is no direct evidence that organisms can acquire
resistance to disinfectants, organisms that are resistant to antimicrobials may be harder
to kill with the disinfectants commonly used in the pharmaceutical or healthcare setting.
There is some evidence of this with some organisms, which calls for a renewed focus on
aspects of disinfectant efficacy, like the minimum inhibitory concentration.
Tell us about your area of research?
The research is mostly applied. Over the past few years I’ve been working with
microbiologists in Saudi Arabia, principally Dr Vijayakumar Rajendran, to determine the
frequency of biocide resistant genes (e.g. qacA, qacE and cepA) in multidrug resistant
bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter
baumannii, and to correlate the presence or absence of resistant genes with biocides
susceptibility. We’ve written several papers looking at different organisms and different
biocides, assessing whether organisms that are antimicrobial resistant are also more
resistant to common disinfectants. The research may have an impact on how
pharmaceuticals and healthcare works, such as the need to reassess minimum inhibitory
concentrations.
What have you done to try to maximise the impact of your research?
The research is ongoing and the full implications have yet to be realised; however, the
research is showing a new dimension to the antimicrobial issue. The main thing in terms
of impact is kicking-off discussion about overlooked areas in relation to AMR, which
should help to encourage other researchers to consider different perspectives. Outside
of this, I publicise where I can the importance of taking steps to reduce AMR, especially
when different international campaigns are taking place. Social media provides a great
outlet for this.
How important is AMR as a health issue?

It is an issue of great importance. Humans face the very real risk of a future without
antibiotics. The implications of this are that life expectancy could fall due to people dying
from diseases that are readily treatable today. In the last two decades, the rate at which
bacteria are becoming resistant to current antibiotic treatments has substantially
increased. For example, this trend is threatening the ability of medical staff to carry out
routine operations or transplants in the future.
In your opinion, which areas of research are likely to have greatest impact on
tackling AMR in the future?
Scientists have a role in addressing AMR even if they are not directly involved with AMR
research or practices. This is by helping to promote best practices, such as avoiding the
mis-prescribing of antibiotics to patients or though seeking better practices and
alternatives to antibiotics in terms of rearing animals. One key research area that will
have the greatest impact is in the search for new antimicrobials. There are some
interesting ones in development, such as Dalvance, an intravenous drug that can treat
skin and soft tissue infections; Oritavancin, a lipoglycopeptide with bactericidal activity
against Gram-positive bacteria; and Teixobactin, a peptide-like secondary metabolite
found in some bacteria that kills some Gram-positive bacteria and which has received
the most media attention. The search for new antimicrobials, however, needs to
continue, and the spectrum of searching needs to extend to areas of low human contact,
such as deep in caves or parts of the oceans.
Do you have any advice for early career scientists who’d like to work in AMR?
First, research into AMR is a long process and there are many routes that do not lead to
anything tangible. Patience is important. Second, potential candidate drugs to address
AMR can come from the most unlikely of places, so keeping an open mind is also
important.
The Microbiology Society is often seen as a Society for academics. What would you
say to disperse this myth? What are the main benefits of being a member?
The Microbiology Society provides topical material for microbiologists in all sorts of
occupations, not just academia. In recent years there has been a variety of different
topics that connect what is being researched in universities to what needs to be
developed by industry in order to meet healthcare demands – the hunt for new
antimicrobials being a prime example. The Microbiology Society is so varied, and this
richness leads to a range of different subject matter that enhances knowledge across
both academia and industry. The sharing of ideas across these two sectors is to the
benefit of all professional microbiologists. It provides an important arena for networking
and sharing ideas across a range of different microbiological disciplines. It also plays a
vital role in promoting the interaction between microbiologists and the general public,
helping to educate and to engage.
And finally, why does microbiology matter?
Microbiology matters because it impacts across every aspect of society, from food
production to global warming (such as toxic algal blooms); to the development of new
medicines through biotechnology; for protecting the manufacture of medicines from
contamination; and, of course, in protecting people from disease and with fighting
diseases. Through being involved with any of these fields, you can make a difference.
Are you a member and interested in sharing stories about your research journey?
Email [email protected]
March 2019
Source: https://microbiologysociety.org/membership/meet-our-members/an-interview-with-dr-
tim-sandle.html

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Why did you choose to become a microbiologist?

Tell us about your biggest professional achievement(s) so far.

Tell us about your area of research?

How important is AMR as a health issue?

And finally, why does microbiology matter?

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